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Objective: The purpose of the present study was to explore food preparation behaviours, attitudes, meal planning and shopping among Mexican-American mothers.Design: Data were collected through four focus groups with mothers of Mexican origin/ancestry who considered themselves to be the primary food preparer. Topics included food preparation behaviours and influencers (culture, family, attitudes, barriers, meal planning and shopping). Data were analysed using a qualitative grounded theory approach. All focus groups were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and coded for themes.Setting: Data were collected in southern California, USA in 2013.Subjects: Of the sample of twenty-one Mexican-American mothers, thirteen were born outside the USA and the mean household size was five members.Results: Participants reported that food was often prepared using traditional staples and food preparation behaviours were learned from maternal family members. Participants also suggested that health was influenced by foods eaten and how they were prepared. Salient factors influencing food preparation behaviours included culture and tradition, maternal family members' food preparation behaviours, food preparation self-efficacy and attitudes towards healthy eating. Time and busy schedules were cited as barriers.Conclusions: Future interventions should consider utilizing family-based approaches and teaching culturally relevant food preparation skills, especially to youth, while reinforcing more healthful dietary practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to investigate whether children''s perceptions of physical activity (PA) settings correspond with (1) parents'' perceptions of neighborhood characteristics (convergent construct validity) and (2) children''s level of PA in those settings (concurrent criterion validity). Methods: Low-to-middle income, ethnically-diverse children (N=108) (ages 9–13) living in Southern California participated in 8days of EMA during non-school time. EMA measured current activity type (e.g., sports/exercise, TV watching) and perceptions of the current setting (i.e., vegetation, traffic, safety). The Neighborhood Environment Walkability Survey (NEWS) assessed parents'' perceptions of neighborhood characteristics. EMA responses were time-matched to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (measured by accelerometer) in the 30min before and after each EMA survey. Data were collected in 2009–2010. Results: Children''s perceptions of vegetation and traffic in PA settings corresponded with parents'' perceptions of the aesthetics (OR=2.21, 95% CI=1.04–4.73) and traffic (OR=2.64, 95% CI=1.31–5.30) in neighborhood environment, respectively. MVPA minutes were higher in settings perceived by children to have less traffic (β=3.47, p<.05). Conclusions: This work provides initial support for the construct and criterion validity of EMA-based measures of children''s perceptions of their PA environments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]